The Government of Canada has now made six deals to acquire COVID-19 vaccines currently in development. The deals secure about 280 million doses (most vaccines will require 2 injections) at an estimated cost of $1 billion (Harris K. CBC, 25 September 2020). Monies paid are to ensure a supply of vaccine and will not be fully refunded if the vaccines are ineffective or fail to receive Health Canada approval (Canadian Press, 22 September 2020). All of the vaccines are in late-stage development but none has yet demonstrated efficacy.
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ACTRIMS/ECTRIMS 2020 SLIDE DECKS
October 8, 2020Selected highlights from ACTRIMS/ECTRIMS 2020 (posted on September 24, 2020)
Virtual Congress – 11-13 September 2020
50 slides
Scientific review:
Dr. Daniel Selchen, Senior Consultant, Division of Neurology, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Canada
French version: Translated by Dr. François Émond, Quebec City MS Clinic, Clinical professor, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada Read More
Update on the diagnosis and management of SPMS
October 1, 2020SPECIAL REPORT
There has been considerable uncertainty and confusion about the diagnosis of secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), which may stem in part from the MS Phenotype Group’s early efforts to define the clinical course of MS (Lublin et al. Neurology 2014; 83:278-286). In that paper, four sub-phenotypes of SPMS were described: those with active disease with disability progression (once considered to be transitional SPMS); active disease without disability progression (once considered RRMS); non-active disease with progression (once considered SPMS); and non-active disease without progression.
ACTRIMS-ECTRIMS 2020 HIGHLIGHTS – Special session on COVID-19
September 28, 2020September 13 Edition
September 12 Edition
September 11 Edition
ACTRIMS/ECTRIMS 2020 concluded on September 26th with a special session on COVID-19. Presentations and posters attempted to clarify risk factors for COVID-19 in MS patients, and to address the question of whether disease-modifying therapies (DMT) – most specifically anti-CD20 therapies – affect the risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection or clinical outcomes of COVID-19. Data were provided by large multinational patient registries and individual MS centres.